State, county leaders honor area amateur radio operators
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State Rep. John Ragan, front, far left, and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, present a resolution to Darrell Cook and other amateur radio operators who sup- port area radio communications during emergencies and national disaster ters. They are joined by County Mayor Terry Frank; Karen Ooten, program manager for Anderson County Emergency Management Agency; EMA Director Steve Payne; and members of the County Commission. - G. Chambers Williams III
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Kalen Patterson, left, and Alex Whalen work on the framing of the bar they are installing for The Dam Bar, which its owners plan to open Oct. 1 in the Anderson Crossing shop- ping center on Andersonville Highway in Norris. Patterson owns Wholesale Cabinets in Oak Ridge. - G. Chambers Williams III
Amateur radio operators who provide vital backup communications services during disasters and other emergencies were honored during a recent meeting of the Anderson County Commission.
Lt. Gov. Randy McNally and state Rep. John Ragan attended the commission meeting to present Senate Joint Resolution 1646, honoring amateur radio operators and their service across the state of Tennessee.
Anderson County leaders joined the legislators in recognizing the service of a number of local residents who are licensed amateur radio operators and members of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service, known as ARES.
The state’s resolution recognizes the 19,835 licensed amateur radio operators who embody “the historic spirit of the Volunteer State” and provide invaluable services to their fellow citizens and local first responders during emergencies and natural disasters.
ARES comprises amateur radio operators licensed by the Federal Communications Commission who voluntarily register their qualifications and equipment with their local ARES leadership, for communications duty in the public service in the event of an emergency.
Local members of ARES who attended the commission meeting to receive the resolution included Darrell Cook, Jim Womack, Jamie Wright, Sam Howard, Jim Bogard and Bart Rollen.
To learn more about the ARES, visit online at arrl.org/ares.